Stationery advancing mechanism for a writing machine



STATIONERY ADVANCING MECHANISM FOR A WRITING MACHINE Filed Jan. 29, 1954 April 9, 1957 c. L. WINTER ET AL 3 Sheets-Sheet l w W J: n M n J April 9, 1957 c. WINTER ETAL 2,788,108

STATIONERY ADVANCING MECHANISM FOR A WRITING MACHINE Filed Jan. 29, 1954 s Shee ts-Sheet 2 orzzeys April 9, 1957 c.| WINTER ETAL 2,788,108

STATIONERY ADVANCING MECHANISM FOR A WRITING MACHINE Filed Jan. 29, 1954 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l -l Z8 45 4 f3 4 67 I 54 66 9 -o T f5 hat .IDHNDDE can? 2 v o I mvuuza /5 i Hill 0 '0 ol TEI' :0 0: 0 OI lO 0: :0 0| IO 0: :0 0 0 O: i0 i 9. To 0: JOHN DUE CORP. :0 o: INVUIBE :o A I 0: TD :0 0' :0

(/arles Z. Mzzier United States Patent STATIONERY ADVANCING MECHANISM FOR A WRITING MACHINE Charles Louie Winter and John E. Euth, Chicago, IlL, asslgnors to Uarco, Incorporated, a corporation of Illinois Application January 29, 1954, Serial No. 407,127

11 Claims. (Cl. 197-114) This invention relates to an attachment for a writing machine and more particularly to a mechanism for advancing continuous-form stationery to a predetermined writing position upon each form length.

Continuous-form stationery is often used in writing machinesfor the purpose of typing bills, invoices, and the like. The operator of the machine, whether it be a typewriter, an accounting machine or a billing machine, generally has to type a name and address on the form and thereafter one or more lines of material on the body of the form. There may be considerable space between the last line of typing and the position on the next form length for a new name and address. The mechanism of this invention is particularly adapted upon a single manual operation to advance the form lengths to proper position on a following form, permitting the typing of the name and address on the form without any other alignment of the forms in the writing machine. The ability of the mechanism to so advance the continuousform stationery in the machine is independent of the amount of writing done on the preceding form.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a new mechanism for accurately advancing continuousform stationery about a platen.

Another object is to provide a mechanism for advancing a platen which incorporates a handle movable through a stroke varying inversely in length with the amount of typing done on a preceding form.

Another object is to provide a mechanism for advancing a platen which permits typing of the form length of stationery beyond the end of the form without interfering with the operation of the advancing mechanism.

A further object is to provide a platen advancing mechanism for a writing machine which incorporates features particularly adapted to aid the operator in initial alignment and operation.

Further objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description of one particular embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of the device mounted on one end of .a platen shown fragmentarily;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary. side .elevational view of the device illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view along line 33 in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a side elevational sectional view taken substantially along line 44, Figure 1, to expose the inner parts of'the device;

Figure 5 is like Figure 4 with the parts moved to an other position; I

Figure 6 is a top plan view partially in section with -the frame of the device being cut on substantially a hori 2,788,108 Patented Apr. 9, 1957 continuous-form stationery which might be used in a writing machine equipped with the present device.

The attachment of the present invention operates with a cylindrical platen 10 equipped with feed pins 11 which may enter into the perforated feed bands 12 of continuous-form stationery as illustrated in Figure 8. The forms of stationery are divided in the continuous strips by lines of weakening 13 so that after typing or writing on the forms, they may be separated into separate invoices. In the sample of stationery shown an operator may wish to type a name and address on the heading 14 of the invoice and one or two lines just below the heading. There is considerable space between the heading on one form and the heading on the next succeeding form. Previously, the manual line feed of the writing machine would be used or the operator would grasp the knobs 15 at the ends of the platen to turn the forms through the machine to the heading of the next form. More recently, devices have been attached to platens which permit the advancement or extraction of the forms through thefr'nachine upon the pulling of a lever. It is with this-type of mechanism that the present invention is concerned.

The present mechanism is adapted to move with the platen and may be secured to the carriage 16 for the platen as by screws 17 as indicated in Figure 4. The mechanism has a frame including a back plate 18 and a front cover 19, formed with a slotted rim portion 20 and secured to the back plate by a number of screws 21. The cover 19 along with the portion 20 is removable to expose the inside mechanism of the device.

The device is connected to the platen of the typewriter by a small gear 22 mounted on a sleeve 23 carrying a clutch plate 24 at its outer end. The knob 15 on the platen shaft 25 is provided with a collar 26 and a pair of laterally extending pins 27 providing a connection, through the clutch housing 28, between theplaten shaft and gear 22. This connection is provided by means of the cooperating clutch housing 28 having an annular portion 29 with axial bores to slidably receive the pins 27. A spring 30 forces the clutch part 28 against the clutch part 24 to maintain the engagement. The clutch may be 'easily disengaged by depressing a finger lever 31, loosely mounted on rivet 32 in the cover plate 19, thus moving the clutch portion 28 away from the clutch portion 24 against the action of the spring. The finger lever 31 has an arcuate fork 33 at .its lower end to rest in a groove in the clutch member 28. By declutching the present mechanism from the platen, an operator may initially position the forms in the writing machine at the proper line. Thereafter no adjustment is necessary.

A gear train is utilized to provide the connection between the present device and the platen. Small gear 22 is in mesh with a larger spur gear 34 idly mounted upon a fixed shaft 35 in the back plate 18 of the frame. The larger gear carries a ratchet wheel 36 having a square sided notch 37 on either side. Since the connection between spur gears 22 and 34 is present at all times, any turning of the platen will turn the large gear 34 and the Y ratchet wheel 36.

The movement of the platen by use of this device is accomplished by an outwardly extending handle 38 idly mounted on the shaft 35 and extending upwardly through the slot 39 in the portion 20 of the cover member. Pawl 40 is pivotally mounted at 41 on the handle and has a detent 42 of a size and shape to fit into the notches 37in the ratchet wheel. Further movement of the platen during typing turns the large spur gear 34 and ratchet wheel 36 causing the handle 38 to move along with the ratchet wheel. The detent 42 has square sides so that the engagement between the pawl 40 and notch may be maintained by a tension spring 43. Movement of the handle through itsarcuatepath, whether through, the action of normal typing advancement of the platen or by swinging of the handle by grasping the outer knob 44 may continue until the handle comes to rest against an adjustable stop 45. i As the handle approaches the stop, a roller portion 46 onthe leading end of the pawl engages the cam surface 47 of a locking pawl 48 removing the detent 42 from the notch 37. The locking pawl is provided with a shallow square sided notch 49 adapted to snap over a square boss 50 carried on the side of the ratchet wheel at the instant the detent 42 leaves the notch 37. A tension spring 51 urges the locking pawl about its pivot 52 toward the shaft 35 of the device.

The handle is returned against an adjustable rearward stop 53 under action of a spring 54 coiled around the shaftand attached to the handle with its other end secured in the forward stop 45. When the handle returns against the rearward stop 53, a lower edge portion 55 engages a boss 56 on the locking pawl 48 forcing it downwardly to disengage the notch 49 from the square boss 50 on the ratchet wheel. At the same time, the advance pawl 40 will re-engage the ratchet wheel by permitting the defeat 42 to enter the opposite notch 37 in the ratchet wheel.

The operation of the device as just described above permits writing beyond the end of a form length without manual adjustment of the advancing mechanism. When the erld of a form length is reached, the advancing handle 38 will be tripped out of engagement with the ratchet wheel and return under action of its spring 54 to its starting position. Thereafter, the handle will be carried forward with the ratchet wheel as before and in proper relation with the next succeeding form. The advantage of the present mechanism is that the handle always advances with the platen so that the distance necessary to advance the handle and properly position the next form is that distance between the position of the handle and the forward stop 45.

In some circumstances, it may be desirable to use the mechanism to advance stationery from a heading to a writing position on the body of the stationery. An additional stop may be easily provided in the device for this purpose. A stop member 60 may be secured by a screw 61 in an arcuate slot 62 having its center on the axis of the shaft 35 and formed in the front cover plate 19. An arm 63 is mounted on the handle 38 by a pair of rivets 64 permitting the arm to slide longitudinally of the handle. An inwardly turned stop lug .65 on the inner end of the arm may be moved outwardly along the handle so as to engage the stop member 60. Ordinarily the arm is held at its inward position by a tension spring 66 so as to pass the stop member 60. The position of the stop member on the arm may be selected by moving it along the arcuate slot 62. Whenever the operator wishes to advance the platen toxthis selected position, a

knob 67 is pulled toward the knob 44 moving the arm outwardly and positioning the stop lug .to hit the stop member 60.

The handle 38 is set up for approximately 180 throw to advance a'form length. Different form lengths may be accommodated by changing the gears 22 and 34 to a proper ratio to accommodate the particular formlength used. When only a few lines are typed on each form, the handle 38 will require relatively long travel manually by the operator to extract the forms about the platen to the next form length. Where more lines are typed on the form, a relatively short distance will remain between the handle and the forward stop 45 required to extract the forms to the next form length. The handle 38 may be moved either rearwardly or forwardly to cause the forms to move in either direction about the platen. The alignment is positive in that the locking pawl holds the platen in proper position while the handle 38 is returned to its initial starting position. This feature aids the operator of the writing machine in using the device and maintaining proper alignment at all times.

While the apparatus of this invention has been shown as connected to the typewriter platen fairly close to the platen itself, some typewriters have throw-off levers beyond the carriage frame necessitating the placement of the present device outwardly beyond such levers. In such cases, the central shaft of the platen may be removed and replaced by one long enough to reach beyond the throw-oif levers and provide room for the attachment of the present device. A suitable bracket may be provided to permit proper placing of the present device outwardiy of the carriage beyond the position shown in the drawings.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, for some modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. A platen advancing mechanism for a writing machine adapted to move continuous-form stationery through the machine to a predetermined position on each form length, comprising: a frame for attachment to the writing machine; a pair of meshing gears in the frame, one connected to the platen and the other having a ratchet wheel; a pivoted platen advancing handle having a pawl engageable with the ratchet wheel to turn the gears and platen, said pawl and ratchet wheel having a configuration preventing disengagement thereof during writing advancement of the platen; a forward stop in the path of the handle; and cam means for releasing the pawl from the wheel when the handle moves against the forward stop.

2. Mechanism as specified in claim 1. wherein the ratchet wheel has a pair of notches on opposite sides thereof and each notch has generally parallel sides arranged to lock the pawl in the notch during advancement of the platen.

3. Mechanism as specified in claim 1, wherein spring means urge the handle toward a starting position away from said forward stop and said ratchet wheel has a plurality of notches for receiving said pawl.

4. Mechanism as specified in claim 1, wherein a locking pawl is mounted in the frame and the ratchet wheel has a portion engageable with the locking pawl when the handle is moved against the forward stop to hold the platen and stationery in said predetermined position.

5. Mechanism as specified in claim 1, wherein a clutch connects the one .gear to the platen and a shifting lever is secured to the frame for disengaging the clutch to rclease the connection between the gears and platen and permit independent rotation of the platen for initial positioning of the stationery in the writing machine.

6. A platen advancing mechanism for a writing machine, adapted to move continuous-form stationery through the machine to a predetermined position on each form length, comprising: a frame for attachment to the writing machine; a gear train in the frame, one gear being connected to the platen and another gear having a ratchet wheel; a pivotally mounted platen advancing handle having a pawl engageable with the ratchet wheel, said wheel and pawl when engaged being loclced for rotation together; forward and rearward stops in the path of the handle; a spring member urging the handle toward the rearward stop; and cam means for disengaging the pawl from the ratchet wheel to release the handle when it is moved against the forward 'stop, the handle returning under action of the spring member to rest against the rearward stop, and the pawl reengaging the ratchet wheel for a subsequent platen advance.

7. Mechanism as specified in claim 6, wherein the handle may swing through about l and said ratchet wheel has a pair of opposite notches for receiving said pawl and carrying the handle toward the forward stop during typing of a form.

8. Mechanism as specified'in claim 7, wherein an auxiliary'stop is secured in the frame-and a detent is mounted for sliding movement along the handle from a position clearing the auxiliary stop to a position engaging the stop to permit advancement of the stationery to a predetermined position different from the position obtained with the handle against said forward stop.

9. A plat-en advancing mechanism for attachment to the platen carriage of a writing machine, comprising: a frame adapted to be secured to the writing machine carriage near one end of the platen; a pair of meshing gears in the frame, one secured to the platen for rotation therewith; a ratchet wheel on the other gear having a pair of diametrically opposite notches and a smooth curved outer periphery between the notches; a swingahly mounted handle beside the ratchet wheel and carrying a pawl engageable in either of said notches, said notches and pawl having complementary sides adapted to remain in engagement during turning of the wheel with advancement of the platen and during manual swinging of the handle to advance the platen; stop members limiting swinging movement of the handle at forward and rearward positions so that manual swinging of the handle against the forward stop member may advance the platen a predetermined distance; a cam member for removing the pawl from the ratchet wheel notch at the forward limit of handle travel; and means yieldably urging the handle toward its rearward position.

10. A platen advancing mechanism for a writing machine adapted to move continuous-form stationery through the machine to a predetermined position on each form length, comprising: a frame for attachment to the writing machine; a rotatable ratchet wheel mounted in the frame; connecting means for providing a driv- -ing connection from the platen to said rotatable ratchet wheel; a pivoted platen advancing handle having a pawl engageable with the ratchet wheel to turn the connecting means and the platen, said pawl and ratchet wheel having a configuration preventing disengagement thereof during writing advancement of the platen; a forward stop in the path of the handle; and means for disengaging the pawl from the ratchet wheel when the handle moves against the forward stop.

11. Mechanism as specified in claim 10, wherein an auxiliary stop is secured in the frame and a detent is carried by the handle and urged to a position clearing the auxiliary stop, said detent being manually movable from said position clearing the auxiliary stop to a position engaging the stop to permit advancement of the stationery to a predetermined position different from the position obtained with the handle against the forward stop.

References Cited in the file of this patent I UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,113,108 Cooper Oct. 6, 1914 1,993,959 English Mar. 12, 1935 

